Madam, - As the Taoiseach visits Saudi Arabia, much airtime and space in the business sections has been given to economic experts and company owners outlining the growing economic opportunities in the Middle East.
Strangely, there has been almost no discussion of the prevailing social conditions there, apart from a mention of Ministers Mary Hanafin and Mary Coughlan awkwardly standing apart from their male colleagues - and this was played down as a mere quirk of foreign protocol.
But apart from this institutionalised discrimination against women, a cursory glance at recent reports from Human Rights Watch will reveal practices such as judges ordering that people's eyes be removed; Chadian citizens (although born in Saudi Arabia) being banned from schools and hospitals; and some domestic workers being subjected to "slave-like" conditions. Already this week, there have been two public beheadings - a common occurrence in Saudi Arabia.
I understand that the acceptance of Saudi Arabia into the WTO may signal the arrival of a "Desert Dragon" economy and, according to some, we should climb on the bandwagon immediately; but surely we can't close our eyes to the culture of state-sponsored torture that exists in that kingdom (though it must be said this is remarkably consistent with our policy on US troop movements and renditions through Shannon).
One hopes at least that the Marys were chaperoned at all times, since Amnesty International regularly reports on the plight of women who are arrested for the crime of walking unaccompanied, assumed to be morally corrupt, then given a month in jail and 60 lashes to boot.
Apparently, we will raise our trade petticoats whenever we see the glint of a shilling, no matter who the patron is. - Yours, etc,
DAVID IRWIN,
Catherine Place,
Limerick.
Madam, - Your paper reports on the progress of a large trade delegation to the Middle East led by the Taoiseach and three Cabinet Ministers. This follows a similar trade mission to China just two years ago led by the Taoiseach and four Ministers.
Such missions undoubtedly help to sustain Irish economic growth and prosperity. It is heartening to note that Northern Ireland companies are also part of the current delegation.
Media coverage suggests that non-economic issues are very much secondary on these missions. I hope, however, that the Government devotes plenty of political capital and civil service enerty to encouraging democracy and protecting human rights in both China and the Middle East.
It would be a tragedy if the Government were to view these regions as potential goldmines for Irish exporters while ignoring the human suffering and oppression that exist there. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL MORIARTY,
Clones Road,
Monaghan Town.
Madam, - While he is over there, I don't suppose there is a chance that Bertie Ahern could ask for those passports back? - Yours, etc,
ULTAN Ó BROIN,
South Circular Road,
Dublin 8.